Yoss Cumbicos didn't set out to build a resource that thousands of parents would come to rely on. It started with one child, and one problem.
When her son Jeremy was diagnosed with autism, the first challenge was finding help that was actually useful. “I felt completely lost,” she says. “I spent hours searching for information, creating my own visual supports, and trying to find resources that were actually helpful and affordable.” A lot of what was out there was either too generic or too expensive, so she started making things for Jeremy directly: visual supports, simple tools to get through the day.
It didn't take long to realize other families were stuck in the same place. So she started sharing everything, and the Autism Resources & Support community grew from there. The reason it caught on is simple: “Parents needed practical tools, not just information.”
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That's still the whole idea behind it. Instead of one more thing to read, she makes things parents can actually use: emergency binders, communication cards, daily routines, and visual schedules. They're designed to help kids communicate and feel secure, and to help parents stay organized. And they're all free, on purpose. “Many of these resources can be expensive, so I wanted to make them available for free.”
The binders are a good example of the care that goes into them. She themes them around what a child already loves, so there are versions built around Brown Bear, Brown Bear, Monster Jam, mermaids, and more. It's a small thing, but it turns a document meant for stressful moments into something a child finds familiar.
Parents use them in ways that stick with you. One mom in the group shared that her son was starting kindergarten camp before his teacher would have access to his IEP. She filled out one of Yoss's emergency binders and sent it ahead so the teacher could get to know him, kept a laminated copy in his backpack, and made another for the car in case of an emergency.
For Yoss, those stories are what matter, not the numbers. “The messages that stay with me are from parents who tell me they finally feel less alone. One mom told me she had been overwhelmed after her child's diagnosis, and that my free resources gave her a place to start.”
She also has some advice for parents who are just starting out: progress looks different for every child, and small victories matter. Ask for help. Celebrate the little milestones. Stop comparing your child to anyone else. “Every child deserves to be seen for who they are, not for what they can't do.”
And the reason behind all of it is close to home. “Jeremy motivates me. Every milestone he reaches reminds me why I started. If something I create helps even one family feel more prepared, less overwhelmed, or more hopeful, then it's worth every hour I spend making these resources.”
You can find Yoss's resources in the Autism Resources & Support community, where parents can request PDFs and find support from others going through the same thing.
If siblings or classmates need a simple explanation of autism, start with 18 Autism Facts for Kids.
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